Lake Levels

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Lake Nacimiento is an 18-mile long lake on the Nacimiento River in northern San Luis Obispo County, California, and is controlled by Monterey County. The size of the lake varies on the annual rainfall and conservation releases of water by Monterey County. Lake Nacimiento has a capacity of 377,000 acre feet, and can fill quickly from it’s various tributaries. The lake’s contains several arms including Snake Creek and Dip Creek, nearer the dam, and the central Las Tablas and Franklin Creeks. Because of the dragon-like shape created by the positions of these arms, it is sometimes referred to as The Dragon Lake.

The lake was originally designed for irrigation water and flood control as well as recreation. Nacimiento Dam, a 210-foot earth fill dam, forms the lake. The dam was built by the Monterey County Water Authority, which completed construction in 1961. The water authority uses the lake to recharge its groundwater.

One of the best sources for finding the lake water level is the Monterey County Water Resource Agency’s Dam and Reservoir Data sheet, listed below.

If the below Data sheet does not display properly, please refresh the page. If it still does not display properly, you can view it from the Monterey Website here:

Click here to view PDF of current lake levels

NRWMACs primary goals for Lake Nacimiento water management

Maximize water levels up to the ideal level 790 ft., which stores more water for recreation & agriculture.

Maintenance of constant lake levels from May 1 through September 30 to enhance recreation activities and fish habitat.

Maintain year-to-year elevations through prudent management of transfers and releases.

If the tunnel is built, utilize transferred water from Nacimiento, being stored in San Antonio, prior to releasing water from Nacimiento.

Recreation water elevation at Nacimiento

People around the lake feel that the minimum lake level for good useable recreation is 780 feet msl, below 760 ft-msl many ramps are not useable and areas of the lake become too narrow for boats to pass

How You Can Help

Send us your questions, concerns, and comments by filling in the contact form on this page.
Share with friends, neighbors, and others through word of mouth or social media.
Donate to NRWMAC so that we can continue our efforts to retain enough water for lake property owners and lake enthusiasts on Lake Nacimiento.